bluesboy Posted November 17, 2004 Report Share Posted November 17, 2004 Willie Nelson is such a pillar in the music community. I thought we could post a favorite song he does as an appreciation. I'll start with... Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground If you had not fallen Then I would not have found you Angel flying too close to the ground And I patched up your broken wing And hung around a while Tried to keep your spirits up And your fever down I knew someday that you would fly away For love's the greatest healer to be found So leave me if you need to I will still remember Angel flying too close to the ground Fly on, fly on past the speed of sound I'd rather see you up Than see you down Leave me if you need to I will still remember Angel flying too close to the ground Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_jr_ Posted November 17, 2004 Report Share Posted November 17, 2004 Excellent topic, Bluesy. I like a lot of Willie's stuff, but my favorite has always been, and always will be, "Always on My Mind". It's a beautifully painful song anyay, but Willie gives it that extra little stab. Anybody know what I'm talking about? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesboy Posted November 17, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2004 His interpretation of lyrics rivals that of Frank Sinatra in cutting to the bone of emotions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_Annabelle_ Posted November 17, 2004 Report Share Posted November 17, 2004 I agree Jr, his version is very touching. Other than "Always on My Mind" though I haven't heard a lot of Willie Nelson but I'd say one of my favorites is "Slow Down Old World": Slow down slow down old world There's no hurry cause My life ain't mine anymore I lived too fast Now it's too late to worry And I'm too blue to cry anymore I once was a fool for the women Now I'm just a fool nothing more So slow down slow down old world There's no hurry cause My life ain't mine anymore I once had a way with the women Till one got away with my heart So slow down slow down old world There's no hurry cause My life ain't mine anymore Cause my life ain't mine anymore Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
windy1 Posted November 17, 2004 Report Share Posted November 17, 2004 If we're speaking love songs here, Always On My Mind has to be the most beautiful, soul wrenching song I've ever heard. It's life. No matter what may happen to two people, I believe someone always has someone else who will be "Always On My Mind" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elvish Posted November 17, 2004 Report Share Posted November 17, 2004 Thanks for this thread, BluesBoy. Willie is one of my all time favorite artists. Not only is he a talented singer and guitarist, but he's one of the best songwriters of all time, IMO. He's a true American poet. You've already listed my absolute favorite song of his (Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground), but I have lots of others. I'm going to post two (sorry! - I really am restraining myself) one love song and one not. . . Funny How Time Slips Away Well, hello there My, it's been a long, long time How am I doing? Oh, I guess that I'm doing fine It's been so long now, But it seems now, that it was only yesterday Gee, ain't it funny, how time slips away. How's your new love? I hope that he's doin fine I heard you told him, That you'd love him till the end of time Now, that's the same thing that you told me Seems like just the other day Gee, ain't it funny, how time slips away. I gotta go now I guess I'll see you around Don't know when though Never know, when I'll be back in town But remember, what I tell you In time your gonna pay And it's surprising, how time slips away... Write Your Own Songs (recorded w/Waylon Jennings) You call us heathens with zero respect for the law We are only songwriters just writing our songs and that's all We write what we live and we live what we write is that wrong If you think it is Mr. Music Executive Why don't you just write your own songs Chorus: And don't listen to mine They might run you crazy They might make you dwell on your feelings a moment to long We're making you rich and you were already lazy So just lay on your a$$ and get richer or write your own songs Mr. Purified Country don't you know what the whole things about Is your head up your a$$ so far that you can't pull it out The world's gettin' smaller and everyone in it belongs And if you can't see that Mr. Purified Country Why don't you just write your own songs Chorus So just lay on your a$$ and get richer or write your own songs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Joe Posted November 17, 2004 Report Share Posted November 17, 2004 I agree with all of you. He's a truly gifted songwriter with an original voice. I like several of his songs and I'm even willing to forgive him for that thing he did with Julio Iglesis. "Crazy" is probably my favorite. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesboy Posted November 17, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2004 Thanks for this thread, BluesBoy. Willie is one of my all time favorite artists. Not only is he a talented singer and guitarist, but he's one of the best songwriters of all time, IMO. He's a true American poet. You've already listed my absolute favorite song of his (Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground), but I have lots of others. I'm going to post two (sorry! - I really am restraining myself) one love song and one not. . . You're Welcome Elvish. Go ahead and post more if you want. I'll likely post more too. There's probably dozens we could post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elvish Posted November 17, 2004 Report Share Posted November 17, 2004 Okay, Blues, if you insist! (Actually, I agree with you: just hitting the high notes - no pun intended - could make this a multiple page thread). Chorus: It's a Bloody Mary morning, Baby left me without warning Sometime in the night So I'm flyin' down to Houston Forgetting her's the nature of my flight As we taxi toward the runway With the smog and haze Reminding me of how I feel Just a country boy who's learnin' That the pitfalls of the city Are extremely real All the night life and the parties And temptation and deceit The order of the day Well it's a Bloody Mary mornin' Cause I'm leavin' baby somewhere in LA Chorus Our golden jet is airborne And flight Fifty cuts a path Across the mornin' sky And a voice comes on the speaker Reassuring us flight Fifty Is the way to fly And a hostess takes our order Coffee tea or something stronger To start off the day Well it's a Bloody Mary morning Cause I'm leavin' baby somewhere in LA Chorus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesboy Posted November 17, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2004 I'll follow your lead Elvish, Here's some early Willie (1962) album Three Days Three days I dread to see arrive Three days I hate to be alive Three days filled with tears and sorrow Yesterday today and tomorrow There are three days I know that I'll be blue Three days that I'll always dream of you And it does no good to wish these days would end Cause the same three days start over again Three days that I dread to be alive Three days that I hate to see arrive Three days filled with tears and sorrow Yesterday today and tomorrow There are three days... Three days that I dread to see arrive... Three days three days btw - k.d. lang does a cover of this (1989) that Just Tears It Up man is it good Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elvish Posted November 18, 2004 Report Share Posted November 18, 2004 Blues, it looks like it's just gonna be me and you! I'm sure you've heard of Who'll Buy My Memories (aka - The IRS Tapes). It's a 2-disc set of all acoustic stuff - just Willie and Trigger (his quitar). They earned the nickname because part of the sales royalties went to repay Willie's debt to the government. This is an awesome collection and a must have for any Willie fan. Unfortunately it's out of print, but occasionally a copy will show up on ebay. There are some really great stripped down versions of some of his songs, and others that were never released before or since - like this one: Remember the good times They're smaller in number and easier to recall Don't spend too much time of the bad times Their staggering number will be heavy as lead on your mind Don't waste a moment unhappy Invaluable moments gone with the leakage of time As we leave on our own separate journeys Moving west with the sun to a place buried deep in our minds Repeat first verse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miamisammy29 Posted November 18, 2004 Report Share Posted November 18, 2004 MUSICAL INTERLUDE: "Ridin' on 'The City of New Orleans, Illinois Central Monday morning rail. Fifteen cars and fifteen restless riders, three conductors and 25 sacks of mail. All along the southbound odyssey, the train pulls out at Kankakee, Rolls along past houses, farms and fields. Passin' trains that have no names, freight yards full of old black men, and the graveyards of the rusted automobiles. Good mornin' America how are ya, don't you know me, I'm your native son. I'm the train they call The City of New Orleans, and I'll be gone five hundred miles when the day is done. Dealin' card games with the old men in the club car, penny a point ain't no one keepin' score. pass the paper bag that holds the bottle, feel the wheels rumblin' 'neath the floor. And the sons of pullman porters, and the sons of engineers, ride their father's magic carpets made of steel. Mothers with their babes asleep, are rockin' to the gentle beat, and the rhythm of the rails is all they feel. Good mornin' America how are ya, don't you know me,I'm your native son, I'm the train they call The City of New Orleans, and I'll be gone five hundred miles when the day is done. Nighttime on 'The City of New Orleans', changing cars in Memphis, Tennessee. Half way home, we'll be there by morning, through the Mississippi darkness rollin' down to the sea. And all the towns and people seem to fade into a bad dream, and the steel rails still ain't heard the news. The conductor sings his song again, the passengers will please refrain, this train has got the disappearin' railroad blues. Good mornin' America, how are ya, don't you know me,I'm your native son, I'm the train they call 'The City of New Orleans', and I'll be gone five hundred miles when the day is done." I know Willie didn't write this one, but his version is the best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Joe Posted November 18, 2004 Report Share Posted November 18, 2004 I like Willie's version, too. It was written BTW by the late, great Steve Goodman. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammy11173 Posted November 18, 2004 Report Share Posted November 18, 2004 I really like'On The Road Agian.' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elvish Posted November 18, 2004 Report Share Posted November 18, 2004 From the liner notes: Are You Sure Written by Willie and steel legend Buddy Emmons after the two were cornered by an overly friendly drunk in a Nashville bar. As Emmons remembers, ?This fellow moved over close to us. I thought he knew Willie and Willie thought he knew me. Finally, I said ?Are you about where you want to be?? The drunk said, ?Yeah.? And I said ?Are you sure?? Willie looked at me and said, ?There?s a song title. I?ll write it and give you half.?? Emmons says he tried to talk Willie out of it, but Willie insisted, saying, ?an idea is as good as a song.? ?It shows you the kind of person Willie is, ? says Buddy. The song appeared on Ray Price?s classic 1962 album Night Life. Oh, look around you Look down the bar from you The lonely faces that you see Are you sure that this is where you want to be? These are your friends But are they real friends Do they love you the same as me Are you sure that this is where you want to be? You seem in such a hurry to live this kind of life You've caused so many tears and misery Look around you, take a good look And tell me what you see Are you sure that this is where you want to be? Don't let my tears persuade you I had hoped I wouldn't cry But lately, teardrops seem a part of me Oh, look around you, take a good look At all the lonely used-to-be's Are you sure that this is where you want to be? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesboy Posted November 19, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2004 Another dynamite song that Willie does is Help Me Make It Through the Night an old Kris Kristofferson song Take the ribbon from your hair Shake it loose and let it fall Laying soft against your skin Like the shadows on the wall Come and lay down by my side Till the early morning light All I'm taking is your time Help me make it through the night Well I don't care who's right or wrong And I won't try to understand Let the devil take tomorrow Cause tonight I need a friend Yesterday is dead and gone And tomorrow's out of sight And it's sad to be alone Help me make it through the night Well I don't want to be alone Help me make it through the night Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elvish Posted November 19, 2004 Report Share Posted November 19, 2004 Another dynamite song that Willie does is Help Me Make It Through the Night an old Kris Kristofferson song I love to hear this one live! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesboy Posted November 21, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 21, 2004 (1978) Willie shifted gears with this release and gave us an album of American Standards that only a few recording artists can pull off successfully. One of those timeless cuts - September Song Oh, it's a long, long while From May to december But the days grow short, When you reach September. When the autumn weather Turn leaves to flame One hasn't got time For the waiting game. Oh the days dwindle down To a precious few... September, November... And these few precious days I'll spend with you. These precious days I'll spend with you. Oh the days dwindle down To a precious few... September, November... And these few precious days I'll spend with you. These precious days I'll spend with you. These precious days I'll spend with you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aunt_Acid Posted November 21, 2004 Report Share Posted November 21, 2004 I have two Willie Nelson albums, neither of which I have heard. StarDust and Pretty Paper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesboy Posted November 21, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 21, 2004 Maybe someday you'll listen to them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aunt_Acid Posted November 21, 2004 Report Share Posted November 21, 2004 Maybe today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Posted November 22, 2004 Report Share Posted November 22, 2004 Willie's version of "Blue Eyes Cryin' in the Rain" can actually make me 'mist up' if I'm thinking of someone when I'm listening to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elvish Posted January 14, 2005 Report Share Posted January 14, 2005 *BUMP* They played this one for me on my last birthday. I was pretty much already drunk, which is probably why the DJ selected it! :: Well I gotta get drunk and I sure do dread it cause I know just what I'm gonna do I'll start to spend my money callin everybody honey and I'll wind up singin the blues I'll spend my whole paycheck on some old wreck And brother I can name you a few Well I gotta get drunk and I sure do dread it cause I know just what I'm gonna do I gotta get drunk, I just can't stay sober There's a lot of good people in town Who like to see me holler, see me spend my dollar and I wouldn't dream of lettin 'em down There's a lot of doctors tell me that I'b better start slowing it down But there's more old drunks than there are old doctors So I guess we'd better have another round Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fidelityfiend Posted January 15, 2005 Report Share Posted January 15, 2005 Willie's version of "Blue Eyes Cryin' in the Rain" can actually make me 'mist up' if I'm thinking of someone when I'm listening to it. this is by far my favorite Willie tune - and someone mentioned "City Of New Orleans" - another classic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XXX Posted January 15, 2005 Report Share Posted January 15, 2005 I can't name one of his songs Once I get money I'll check out one of his albums or buy a compilation Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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